– $510,000 in cash up for grabs

UNITED States-based company, Elizabeth Styles, has continued its partnership with the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) with a sponsorship worth $510,000 towards the board 40-over round-robin competition.

The partnership was confirmed last Saturday between the two entities during a simple launching ceremony at the Better Hope Community Centre.

Among the officials attending the launch were Marketing Director of Elizabeth Styles, Kevin Thomas, and ECCB President, Bissoondyal Singh, among a number of club captains.

Thomas commented: “While this is the fifth consecutive year that we are sponsoring cricket on the East Coast of Demerara, we have also in the past sponsored Under 17, 19, 21 and development programmes in the County of Berbice and it gives us great pleasure to be associated with the game in Guyana. We believed that the ECCB is doing a great job and are quite satisfied with the way they have been administering these competitions and, as such, we wish them well.”

The winner of the competition will pocket $380,000 along with a trophy; second place attracts $80,000 and a trophy, while the best player in the final will also receive a trophy.
The ECCB has disclosed that this year there will be no zoning of teams, since the sponsor had requested that every team on the East Coast be allowed to face each other. The competition is expected to bowl off shortly.

ECCB Vice-President and Competitions Committee Chairman, Raymond Barton, speaking at the launch, explained that nineteen teams have entered the competition so far with four others having indicated that they are interested in participating.

He anticipates some exciting cricket as this competition is the largest Elizabeth tournament on the East Coast in terms of the amount of teams participating. Teams as far as Abary will be competing.

Singh, in his presentation, noted that while the board is facing challenging times as it relates to receiving subventions and financing from what is given to Guyana by Cricket West Indies, they have managed to maintain a high level of cricket activities.

“Had it not been for businesses and companies like Elizabeth Styles, it would have been a monumental task and so on behalf of the ECCB, the clubs and teams, I would like to express sincere gratitude to the management and staff of Elizabeth Styles for their generosity.”

Meanwhile, Barton is requesting that clubs make contact with the committee in relation to participating in the tournament. Contact can be made on telephone number 626 0223 on or before tomorrow.

Elizabeth Styles, a company that produces hair care, baby care and a wide range of cosmetics, operates in 104 countries.